Condo buyers snub developer
Sunday Star 29/08/1999 By Wan Wai Yee
KUALA LUMPUR: Buyers of the Le Chateau Condominium
Phase Two in Lorong Syed Putra Kiri here finally moved into their homes
yesterday, seven years after they booked the units.
After gathering peacefully at the condominium's compound, about 70 people
comprising the buyers, their families and the condominium's residents
association pro tem committee members proceeded to open the doors to their
homes with the help of hired locksmiths.
Also present was MP for Bukit Bintang Dr Lee Chong Meng. Representatives
of the developer, Zamrud Properties Sdn Bhd, were not around.
The owners had refused to pay the balance of the purchase price of 20% to
the developer, on the grounds that the company had failed to comply with
the requirement for the properties to be free of encumbrances.
In the dispute, which has dragged on for years, the developer demanded
that they pay up the remaining 20% as stipulated under the Sales and
Purchase Agreement while the buyers maintained that the company had
breached rules under the Housing Developers Act.
The buyers had on their own initiative applied for Certificates of Fitness
for the units.City Hall released the CFs to them on June 30 on
"humanitarian grounds".
Accountant A.M.S. Suppiah said the developer had delayed the units for
five years.
"I want my house. My family and I are renting outside now. We already have
the Certificate of Fitness. I want my keys today (yesterday)," Suppiah
said.
Owner Chang Tuck Seng said: "After the place is done up, I will move in."
The condominium pro-tem committee has also contacted Human Resources
Minister Datuk Lim Ah Lek, and a meeting to resolve the issue is scheduled
for next Monday at his office.
